For FY16, provides a continuing appropriation for each State agency to meet personnel expenditures for each payroll period during which appropriations for personnel expenditures have not been made available to that State agency. Defines “State agency” to include all State agencies, the office of any constitutional officer, State universities, community colleges, and any agency, board, commission, or other instrumentality of State government to which an appropriation for personnel expenditures was made from a State fund in FY15. Defines “personnel expenditure” and “applicable State fund”. Effective immediately.

The bill was introduced yesterday by Rep. CD Davidsmeyer. It is supported by the governor and has yet to be assigned to a committee.

* The Question: Since the courts have not yet ruled that state employees can be paid without a budget, should the General Assembly pass this bill? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

No to a full FY continuing approp. I would support a temporary 1-2 month, but not the full year. There needs to be pressure to complete the budget. Taking state employees completely out of the equation prevents a major pressure point. Besides what would a large number of the employees do without approps for grants, inspections, travel, …

Yes didn’t they pass something like this last year for themselves which is why they will get paid during the shutdown even though the workers won’t? Please correct me if I am wrong on that but I thought I read where they get paid.

I commented above, away from this comment to remind us all, as Rauner signs (if he does) this, this necessary step was predicated by Rauner, and only Rauner, choosing, and Rauner should THANK the entire General Assembly… and Cullerton… and Madigan for bailing him (Rauner) out.

Stones - That is a one month budget for the entire state budget. This bill only addresses appropriations for State Worker payrolls for FY16. There is no bill that I know of that requests a 1 month appropriation for payroll.

No. I want employees to be paid–from a properly passed, comprehensive budget. How do you justify payin’ grant managers, when they have no grants to administer, while all those not for profit social services are shut down, and their employees laid off?

I voted no because it alleviates pressure to get to an actual budget. Also, how is this different than Rauner’s complaint about a temporary budget? It is still spending without a “balanced” budget. Also, it is going to be hard for state workers to do their jobs when the electricity and Internet get cut off due to lack of payment. Won’t happen right away, but it will if this keeps dragging on. I worked at an agency where the Internet was cut off when the state “forgot” to pay. So it can happen.

Voted no for two reasons. First, if you read the language of the bill, this gives very very broad authority for the executive branch to spend whatever they would like as it relates to personal services. While that problem does not fall into an unconstitutional delegation of authority, I would certainly question the wisdom of it.

Second, I don’t want to see state employees used as pawns either, but it was the Governor’s decision to do so, until he didn’t want to anymore. There is no good reason why some agreement can’t be reached on a one month budget, if team Superstar were actually interested in Governing and avoiding crisis, versus creating crisis.

Yes, I have bills to pay and I’m not convinced that more time will lead to the parties coming up with anything remotely reasonable. Compromise doesn’t seem possible. I’m going to have to take a private-sector job if this goes on much longer.

I voted “Yes” because I’d prefer not to see the havoc that would ensue from No. The Devil on my shoulder would prefer No so Rauner could have further opportunities to “shine” - snark. This is a no brainer for anyone who really cares about Illinois and people. Oops, No is a corporate approach that everyone voted for - more snark - and therefore only Corporate citizen, Rauner approach should prevail. LMAO

Yes, but add language to make it a continuing approp for all time only reversed by 3/5 majority. Add in some union protecting language as payback for bailing the governor out. If his bill is single subject than surely this would be too.

oooops. I voted yes. I’m a state worker. I prefer that Mr. Rauner and Mr. Madigan and the GA simply do their job. I’m doing mine right now….and all for the pay of $0.0. In the meantime they aren’t doing theirs but continuing to get paid.

I voted yes. A lot of people would be hurt in a shutdown. Also this could hurt state employees who are going to retire soon, the unpaid work may end up pulling their average wage down if they don’t get paid for it before they retire. Is there any provision in SERS or SURS for that situation?

I voted a strong ‘no.’ They done school funding without a budget agreement and the courts have taken care of a few things for vulnerable people. Take this off the table and there’s no pressure for them to agree to a budget. We’ll be stuck in continual campaign mode until either there’s a Democratic governor or the Raunerites take over the House and Senate.

If I didn’t think the pressure would be great enough to force a budget agreement, I would have voted ‘yes.’

I voted yes. Just because there’s no budget, it’s a stretch to say all state services stop. No. We are expected to come to work and serve the needs of the public. We move paperwork, we take phone calls, we advise, counsel, and otherwise direct the public to an answer for which they need. And the obvious: we are working. Pay us.

OW: how many times do we need to see what BR could’ve done. Got it. That’s a problem with politics: always talking about what coulda, shoulda been done. Just get it done. Move along

While I agree that employees and those that need state services should not suffer or be pawns in these “negotiations”. I also feel like the elected leaders need to take these deadlines seriously. The more wiggle room you give them, the more they will take.

If they do want to pass a continuing appropriations bill, it should be permanent, not 1-2 months or 1 year.

Otherwise, you really need to have the pain of a REAL shutdown to motivate the politicians to do their jobs. These half-measure “shutdowns” just allow them to draw the process out even longer.

I voted yes. Several commenters have pointed out that paying employees “removes a pressure point”. But who does not paying employees put pressure on?

Taking hostages only works if someone else (1) wants the hostages, and (2) is in a position to give you what you want in return. You need both and so far no one, general public or legislature, has indicated either.

As for “what will they do” the state isn’t made up of 60,000 grant administrators and home health workers. Inspectors, licensures, examiners and general public services (dmv for example) aren’t going to see their workload decrease.
Besides, in the revered private sector, you don’t not pay your staff during slow seasons. Why shouldn’t the same hold here. If you’re going to demand that people show up to work, human decency says you pay them.

I voted YES but I am ambivalent. The function of the Constitutional mandate of a balanced budget seems to have no teeth.
Without a shutdown of State government, there will not be enough citizen outrage to prevent this cycle.
But with all of the various exceptions (Legislative pay, judicial pay, consent decrees, FLSA) the exceptions have swallowed the rule.
And the average State worker should not be the pawn in the middle of this political embarrassment.

Yes. People should get paid for their work. They should not be penalized for two grown men’s tantrums.

Will the guv sign it? Does he understand yet the powers and duties of his office? Will the House pass it? Does MJM understand yet that his and his caucus’ duty is to the people of this state and not his political party’s power?

No. Only because this bill is for FY16 only. I think they should vote on an ongoing continuing approp. Why have to deal with the same issue next year or in five years? What makes this year so special? Or if you only want a one year fix, pass a budget with employee salaries only.

Justice Torch, don’t just sit there and take it. Call the Governor’s Office and complain and keep calling. They’ll give you there phony baloney spiel, but the buck stops there. Go ahead and call your legislator and complain as well, but the heat will be more effectively put on the governor’s office. Have your family members call. Write letters. Do something besides complain. I wish you well. I know how you feel when we faced this prospect a number of times.

Agree that employee salaries should be part of a comprehensive budget. While some employees could continue to function effectively and perform their normal duties, many probably couldn’t without the ability to pay vendors, consultants, utilities, etc. The “bright line” should be essential and non-essential.

I voted yes but for 1 month and 1 month only. During that month all constitutional offices and agencies should submit their list of essential employees. The court ordered them to do this years ago and again last month. It’s not a shutdown but reducing state services to essential employees making minimum wage will definitely put some pressure on.

I voted yes. I am a state worker who is expected to come to work every day with the knowledge that I will be paid at some time “in the future”. Next week I won’t get a check, but my mortgage and car payment are due. I don’t see anyone lining up to offer to pay them for me while these supposedly grown men pay games.

It is nice that state workers are getting so much attention for their wages. When will the same attention be given to the workers for the vendors and providers who do the work for the state under contact. When those employers do not get paid for services because of no approved budget, how do they pay their employees? Just get the entire budget done.

Still glad to see that Rauner is fighting for state workers to get paid after he cut their funding. Must be very hard fighting with yourself.

Hold the pay of those who have created this situation and see how quickly its resolved. The politicians are being paid - not to mention they went on a two week hiatus before completing their job - thus the State Agencies should be paid while they continue to work for the people of the State of Illinois.